Focus on Liveability

Auckland inspires strong feelings in the editor-in-chief of Monocle magazine, Tyler Brûlé. “Dear Auckland,” Brûlé writes, “I realise it’s less than 96 hours since we parted company but I can’t stop thinking about the wonderful weekend we spent together. The sun was out, your locals were looking fit and tanned, and there was this wonderful feeling of a city still on summer holiday but also getting on with work at the same time. Healthy looks aside, you also seemed to be in a good place mentally. I got the sense that you’re doing your own thing and not concerning yourself too much with your big neighbour to the west. I’m counting the days till my return. Keep doing what you’re doing (focusing on liveability) and I look forward to our next weekend together.”

Australian journalist Jane Nicholls and her New Zealand-born husband visited Mangonui/Doubtless Bay to “capture the simple magic of childhood holidays” for her own family. Nicholls recalls the time there in a travel feature for…